Kingston Residents' Alliance
We are active on social media:
  • Home
  • Planning Portal
    • EDEN CAMPUS >
      • EDENCAMPUS PRESENTATION
      • COMMUNITY WORK >
        • LETTERS
      • EDENCAMPUS SLIDESHOW
      • 2020 CONSULTATIONS >
        • KRA RESPONSE 10 January 2021
        • KRA RESPONSE 4th November
      • 2019 - APPLICATION
    • Seething Wells HELP >
      • SW_representation
    • Cambridge Road Estate >
      • CRE - Regeneration
    • SURREY COUNTY HALL >
      • RESIDENTS COMMENTS
      • KRA CONSULTATION RESPONSE
    • Eden Walk >
      • Eden Walk - submission in pictures
      • Eden Walk presentation 18 May
      • Eden Walk presentation 8 March
      • Eden Walk CONCERNS
      • Historic Englands Eden Walk response
      • Design Panel Review
      • Officers report - Eden Walk
    • New Local Plan >
      • Direction of Travel Consultation
      • Opportunity Area
    • Canbury Business Park
    • Old Post Office >
      • KRA response 5
      • TOPO - submission in pictures
      • Presentation notes 4
      • Old Post Office v4 Concerns
      • Historic England response v4
      • Q.C. OPINION
      • Our response to the Officers report >
        • Officers report
      • Zac Goldsmiths Response
      • Presentation notes 3
      • KRA response 3
      • A fresh look
      • Why it is wrong
      • Residents opposition
      • Notable opposition
      • What could be acceptable
      • Why some say yes
      • Who will decide
      • Other planning cases
    • Riverside Boardway
    • Market House >
      • Open Letter
      • April 2016 - Update
    • Fairfield
    • Archive >
      • Archive - Old Post Office #3
      • Archive - Old Post Office #2 >
        • Our response to Officers report >
          • Officers report
        • Historic England rejection
        • Why it is wrong
        • Weight of opposition >
          • Letters to Councillors >
            • Letter to Councillors 1
            • Letter to Councillors 2
            • Letter to Councillors 3
          • Speaker Notes >
            • Key Objections Introduction
            • Affordable Housing
            • Heritage
            • Urban design
            • Aesthetic Design
            • What might be acceptable
  • Historical Context
    • TOPO story
    • Before the final vote
    • KRA Snap Survey Findings
    • Create Streets Guide for Councillors
    • Planning documents >
      • EQDB Deputation by KRA
    • Kingston's Democracy >
      • Neighbourhood Forums
      • GROVEN >
        • Letter to Viv Evans
        • Grove Ward Neighbourhood Invite
      • North Kingston Neighbourhood Forum
      • Meeting Notes
    • RBK Councillors
    • Kingston Futures
  • Press
    • News Blog
    • In the Press
    • Letters
  • About
    • Our advisers
  • Contact
  • COMMS
Dear Councillors 


You are about to make a decision which could change the character of Kingston forever, As a concerned resident I urge you to pay regard to the concerns raised by the non-partisan Kingston Residents‘Alliance, a groundswell of local opposition to the inappropriate over development of this small site. We are NOT NIMBYS, we support development of this site and welcome refurbishment of the two listed buildings, however we feel TOO MUCH is being asked of this site. Much is made of a ‘gateway’ building, but a gateway to what? New Croydon? Studies have shown that high rise buildings are not necessarily the best way of maximizing homes. Indeed the higher cost of building tall is only viable if the developer can sell off the penthouses at the top to wealthy foreign investors to sit empty as a kind of ‘property bank’
The historic market town of Kingston already has landmark buildings – the Guildhall, All Saints Church – the Market House - all built to a human scale. Real landmarks. We don’t need a massive development and tall tower to further destroy the town’s character and not only that to spoil the historic vistas from the ancient market, Home park and Richmond park to name a few,
St George make much of their ‘public realm’ square. In reality as they were forced to admit at the last meeting it would only receive direct sunlight for 2 hours a day on the 21st of June! The rest of the time it’s going to be a windswept unwelcoming north facing wasteland.
What of the council's commitment for affordable Housing of 50%? the developer’s provision of around 13% comes nowhere near this – but this has been decided by their ‘viability’ study. Has there been any independent verification of this viability?
Finally please take note of the opposition to the plans as they stand, from many concerned groups including Historic England, The Kingston Society and the Kingston Residents Alliance (the latter turning up in such numbers at the last meeting that many people couldn't get in)


Yours Sincerely
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.